Trump picks Bondi after Gaetz withdrawal; Hegseth responds to police report
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President-elect Donald Trump wasted no time replacing his embattled attorney general nominee Matt Gaetz with Pam Bondi. We’ve got the details of her background. And a volcano in Iceland, once dormant for 800 years, has erupted again — for the seventh time this year. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Friday, Nov. 22, 2024.
Trump picks Bondi after Gaetz withdrawal; Hegseth responds to police report
President-elect Donald Trump has selected former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi as his new pick to be U.S. Attorney General. The announcement came just hours after former Rep. Matt Gaetz withdrew his name from consideration on Thursday, Nov. 21.
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Bondi served as Florida’s first female attorney general from 2011 to 2019. A year later, she was one of the lawyers who defended Trump during his first impeachment trial where he was ultimately acquitted by the Senate. She also served on Trump’s Opioid and Drug Abuse Commission during his first term.
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Bondi and Trump’s connection came under scrutiny in 2013 when she did not join a lawsuit against Trump in connection to fraud allegations toward Trump University. At the time, Trump’s foundation made a $25,000 donation to a campaign group backing Bondi. Both denied any impropriety.
The 59-year-old Bondi currently leads the legal arm of the conservative think tank America First Policy Institute, which worked with the Trump campaign to help shape policy for his upcoming administration. If confirmed by the Senate, she would oversee the Department of Justice.
In announcing his pick on his platform Truth Social, Trump said, “For too long, the partisan Department of Justice has been weaponized against me and other Republicans – not anymore. Pam will refocus the DOJ to its intended purpose of fighting crime, and making America safe again.”
— Donald J. Trump Posts From His Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) November 21, 2024
Gaetz, who resigned from Congress shortly after Trump nominated him, released a statement earlier in the day saying his confirmation was “unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance transition.” He also called Trump’s nomination of Bondi a “stellar selection.”
The former Florida congressman had been the subject of a House Ethics Committee investigation regarding allegations of sexual misconduct and illicit drug use, including accusations he had sex with a 17-year-old girl. He has denied any wrongdoing and the panel did not agree on Wednesday, Nov. 20, on whether to release its report.
Now attention is turning to Trump’s pick for defense secretary, war veteran and former Fox News host Pete Hegseth. He met with Senators on Thursday as a newly released police report detailed allegations about an alleged sexual assault in 2017.
The report was released to media outlets in response to public records requests. No charges were filed in the case and Hegseth has said the encounter was consensual.
Hegseth spoke to reporters about the allegations Thursday.
“As far as the media is concerned, I’ll put it very simple: the matter was fully investigated and I was completely cleared and that’s where I’m going to leave it,” he said.
Hegseth’s attorney said the allegations are false and Hegseth settled in 2020 only out of fear that he would lose his job at Fox News if the woman’s accusations became public.
Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey concedes to Republican rival Dave McCormick
Pennsylvania’s U.S. Senate race is over. Democratic incumbent Bob Casey has conceded to Republican opponent Dave McCormick.
The Associated Press called the race in favor of McCormick two days after the election.
It was one of the closest races in the state’s history — so close, it triggered an automatic recount under state law. Despite Casey conceding, the recount is still going on and results are expected Wednesday, Nov. 27.
Senator Bob Casey dedicated his career to bettering our commonwealth. Dina and I want to extend our sincere gratitude to Senator Casey, Terese, and their family for their decades of service, hard work, and personal sacrifice.
— Dave McCormick (@DaveMcCormickPA) November 21, 2024
I am so honored to represent every single citizen in… https://t.co/aUxlLZJMua
This is Pennsylvania’s fourth recount since 2004. None of the previous ones changed the outcome.
With McCormick’s victory, Republicans will control the U.S. Senate by a 53-47 margin, picking up four seats in the 2024 election.
Alabama carries out nation’s 3rd nitrogen gas execution
An Alabama prisoner became the third person in not just the state, but the U.S. to be executed with nitrogen gas Thursday night. Carey Grayson, 50, was one of four men convicted of murdering a female hitchhiker in 1994 when he was a teenager.
The U.S. Supreme Court denied Grayson’s final petition to halt the execution Thursday afternoon.
In a controversial move, Alabama began using nitrogen gas this year to carry out some executions. It entails the inmate inhaling pure nitrogen through a mask until he suffocates. Critics say it is inhumane and painful, but the state maintains the method is constitutional.
NFL issues security alert after homes of Mahomes, Kelce burglarized
The NFL has issued a warning for players after thieves burglarized the homes of two of its biggest stars in the league. Kansas City Chiefs players Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce had their homes broken into within days of each other last month in the Kansas City metro area.
South American crime ring suspected in Travis Kelce, Patrick Mahomes robberies https://t.co/21De6ZTGMj pic.twitter.com/O3KeYiyihX
— New York Post (@nypost) November 20, 2024
The NFL put out a security alert Thursday saying the criminals target players’ homes on days the athletes have games. Players were told to take precautions and implement home security measures to reduce the risk of being targeted.
NFL officials also recommended players avoid updating social media with check-ins or daily activities until the end of the day and refrain from posting expensive items on their accounts.
Volcano on Iceland’s Reykjanes Peninsula erupts for 7th time this year
In Iceland, a volcano has erupted for the seventh time just this year. This latest eruption happened late Wednesday night in Iceland’s Reykjanes Peninsula.
Tourists had to be evacuated from the Blue Lagoon, Iceland’s most famous tourist attraction. Iceland’s official tourism site said this most recent event, which created a nearly two-mile fissure, was significantly smaller than the last eruption in August which opened a 2.5-mile fissure.
Experts said the volcano had been dormant for 800 years before it became active again in 2021. Since then, a total of 10 eruptions have happened, including this latest one.
Ohtani, Judge named MLB’s most valuable players
Baseball superstars Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge both had award-winning seasons, and now, both have been named MVPs of their respective leagues.
For the second straight year, both MVPs have won unanimously!
— MLB (@MLB) November 22, 2024
2023 and 2024 are the only two times that both MVPs were unanimous selections. pic.twitter.com/tkmu3IHmem
In a unanimous decision on Thursday, the Dodgers’ Ohtani, who became the first player in MLB history to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in one season, claimed his third MVP title. It’s his first in the National League. He joins Hall of Famer Frank Thomas as the only two players to get MVP honors in both leagues.
Judge received his second American League MVP in the last three years.
The two culminated their MVP seasons by meeting in last month’s World Series, where Ohtani and the Dodgers walked away with the championship.
Tags: Football, Republicans, Travis Kelce, baseball, JD Vance, Investigation, Murder, Sports, NFL, Donald Trump, U.S. Department of Justice, Social Media, Kansas City Chiefs, Florida, Supreme Court, Alabama, Fox News, Truth Social, J.D. Vance, Pennsylvania, U.S. Senate, Opioid Crisis, House of Representatives, U.S. Congress, Impeachment, Iceland, Matt Gaetz, Death row executions, Executions, Tourism, trial, Sexual Assault, Prison, MLB
THIS MORNING – MATT GAETZ IS OUT – AND PAM BONDI IS IN.
PRESIDENT-ELECT DONALD TRUMP SELECTING THE FORMER FLORIDA ATTORNEY GENERAL AS HIS NEW PICK TO BE U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL THURSDAY JUST HOURS AFTER GAETZ WITHDREW HIS NAME FROM CONSIDERATION.
BONDI SERVED AS FLORIDA’S FIRST FEMALE ATTORNEY GENERAL FROM 2011 TO 2019 – A YEAR LATER SHE SERVED AS ONE OF THE LAWYERS WHO DEFENDED TRUMP DURING HIS FIRST IMPEACHMENT TRIAL WHERE HE WAS ULTIMATELY ACQUITTED BY THE SENATE.
SHE ALSO SERVED ON TRUMP’S OPIOID AND DRUG ABUSE COMMISSION DURING HIS FIRST TERM.
BONDI AND TRUMP’S CONNECTION CAME UNDER SCRUTINY IN 20-13 WHEN SHE DID NOT JOIN A LAWSUIT AGAINST TRUMP IN CONNECTION TO FRAUD ALLEGATIONS TOWARD TRUMP UNIVERSITY. AT THE TIME, TRUMP’S FOUNDATION MADE A 25-THOUSAND DOLLAR DONATION TO A CAMPAIGN GROUP BACKING BONDI. BOTH DENIED ANY IMPROPRIETY.
THE 59-YEAR-OLD CURRENTLY LEADS THE LEGAL ARM OF THE CONSERVATIVE THINK TANK AMERICA FIRST POLICY INSTITUTE – WHICH WORKED WITH TRUMP CAMPAIGN TO HELP SHAPE POLICY FOR HIS UPCOMING ADMINISTRATION.
IF CONFIRMED BY THE SENATE, SHE WOULD OVERSEE THE DEPARTMENT OF THE JUSTICE.
IN ANNOUNCING HIS PICK ON HIS SOCIAL SITE TRUTH SOCIAL, TRUMP SAID, QUOTE “FOR TOO LONG, THE PARTISAN DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE HAS BEEN WEAPONIZED AGAINST ME AND OTHER REPUBLICANS – NOT ANYMORE. PAM WILL REFOCUS THE DOJ TO ITS INTENDED PURPOSE OF FIGHTING CRIME, AND MAKING AMERICA SAFE AGAIN.”
GAETZ – WHO RESIGNED FROM CONGRESS SHORTLY AFTER TRUMP NOMINATED HIM – RELEASED A STATEMENT EARLIER IN THE DAY SAYING HIS CONFIRMATION WAS QUOTE “UNFAIRLY BECOMING A DISTRACTION TO THE CRITICAL WORK OF THE TRUMP/VANCE TRANSITION.”
THE FORMER FLORIDA CONGRESSMAN HAD BEEN THE SUBJECT OF A HOUSE ETHICS COMMITTEE INVESTIGATION REGARDING ALLEGATIONS OF SEXUAL MISCONDUCT AND ILLICIT DRUG USE – INCLUDING ACCUSATIONS HE HAD SEX WITH A 17-YEAR-OLD GIRL. HE HAS DENIED ANY WRONGDOING AND THE PANEL CAME TO NO AGREEMENT ON WEDNESDAY TO RELEASE ITS REPORT. GAETZ CALLED TRUMP’S NOMINATION OF BONDI A “STELLAR SELECTION.”
NOW ATTENTION IS TURNING TO TRUMP’S PICK FOR DEFENSE SECRETARY – FORMER FOX NEWS HOST AND WAR VETERAN PETE HEGSETH. HE MET WITH SENATORS ON THURSDAY AS A NEWLY RELEASED POLICE REPORT DETAILED ALLEGATIONS ABOUT AN ALLEGED SEXUAL ASSAULT IN 20-17.
THE REPORT WAS RELEASED TO MEDIA OUTLETS IN RESPONSE TO PUBLIC RECORDS REQUESTS.
NO CHARGES WERE FILED IN THE CASE AND HEGSETH HAS SAID THE ENCOUNTER WAS CONSENSUAL.
HEGSETH SPOKE TO REPORTERS ABOUT THE ALLEGATIONS THURSDAY.
Pete Hegseth | Nominated for Defense Secretary
“As far as the media is concerned, I’ll put it very simple. The matter was fully investigated and I was completely cleared. And that’s where I’m going to leave it. Thank you.”
HEGSETH’S ATTORNEY SAYS THE ALLEGATIONS ARE FALSE AND HEGSETH SETTLED IN 20-20 ONLY OUT OF FEAR THAT HE WOULD LOSE HIS JOB AT FOX NEWS IF THE WOMAN’S ACCUSATIONS BECAME PUBLIC.
PENNSYLVANIA’S U-S SENATE RACE IS OVER.
DEMOCRATIC INCUMBENT BOB CASEY HAS NOW CONCEDED TO REPUBLICAN OPPONENT DAVE MCCORMICK.
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS CALLED THE RACE IN FAVOR OF MCCORMICK TWO DAYS AFTER THE ELECTION.
IT WAS ONE OF THE CLOSEST RACES IN THE STATE’S HISTORY — SO CLOSE, IT TRIGGERED AN AUTOMATIC RECOUNT UNDER STATE LAW.
DESPITE CASEY CONCEDING, THE RECOUNT IS STILL GOING ON. RESULTS ARE EXPECTED WEDNESDAY.
THIS IS PENNSYLVANIA’S FOURTH RECOUNT SINCE 2004.
NONE OF THE PREVIOUS ONES CHANGED THE OUTCOME.
WITH MCCORMICK’S VICTORY, REPUBLICANS WILL CONTROL THE U-S SENATE BY A 53-TO-47 MARGIN, PICKING UP FOUR SEATS IN THE 2024 ELECTION.
AN ALABAMA PRISONER BECAME THE THIRD PERSON IN NOT JUST THE STATE, BUT THE U-S TO BE EXECUTED WITH NITROGEN GAS LAST NIGHT.
50-YEAR-OLD CAREY GRAYSON WAS ONE OF FOUR MEN CONVICTED OF MURDERING A FEMALE HITCHHIKER IN 19-94, WHEN HE WAS A TEENAGER.
THE U-S SUPREME COURT DENIED GRAYSON’S FINAL PETITION TO HALT THE EXECUTION YESTERDAY AFTERNOON.
IN A CONTROVERSIAL MOVE — ALABAMA BEGAN USING NITROGEN GAS THIS YEAR TO CARRY OUT SOME EXECUTIONS.
IT ENTAILS THE INMATE, INHALING PURE NITROGEN THROUGH A MASK UNTIL HE SUFFOCATES. CRITICS SAY IT IS INHUMANE AND PAINFUL.
THE STATE MAINTAINS THE METHOD IS CONSTITUTIONAL.
THE N-F-L HAS ISSUED A WARNING FOR PLAYERS AFTER THIEVES BURGLARIZED THE HOMES OF TWO OF ITS BIGGEST STARS IN THE LEAGUE.
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS PLAYERS PATRICK MAHOMES AND TRAVIS KELCE HAD THEIR HOMES BROKEN INTO WITHIN DAYS OF EACH OTHER LAST MONTH IN THE KANSAS CITY METRO AREA.
NOW, THE N-F-L PUT OUT A SECURITY ALERT THURSDAY, SAYING THE CRIMINALS TARGET PLAYERS’ HOMES ON DAYS THE ATHLETES HAVE GAMES.
PLAYERS WERE TOLD TO TAKE PRECAUTIONS AND IMPLEMENT HOME SECURITY MEASURES TO REDUCE THE RISK OF BEING TARGETED.
N-F-L OFFICIALS ALSO RECOMMENDED PLAYERS AVOID UPDATING SOCIAL MEDIA WITH CHECK-INS OR DAILY ACTIVITIES UNTIL THE END OF THE DAY — AND REFRAIN FROM POSTING EXPENSIVE ITEMS ON THEIR ACCOUNTS.
IN ICELAND — A VOLCANO HAS ERUPTED FOR THE SEVENTH TIME JUST THIS YEAR.
THIS LATEST ERUPTION HAPPENED LATE WEDNESDAY NIGHT IN ICELAND’S REYKJANES PENINSULA.
TOURISTS HAD TO BE EVACUATED FROM THE BLUE LAGOON — ICELAND’S MOST FAMOUS TOURIST ATTRACTION.
ICELAND’S OFFICIAL TOURISM SITE SAID THIS MOST RECENT EVENT — WHICH CREATED A NEARLY TWO-MILE FISSURE — WAS SIGNIFICANTLY SMALLER THAN THE LAST ERUPTION IN AUGUST WHICH OPENED A TWO-AND-A-HALF MILE FISSURE.
EXPERTS SAY THE VOLCANO HAD BEEN DORMANT FOR 800 YEARS BEFORE IT BECAME ACTIVE AGAIN IN 20-21.
SINCE THEN, 10 ERUPTIONS HAVE HAPPENED — SEVEN OF THEM THIS YEAR ALONE.
BASEBALL SUPERSTARS SHOHEI OHTANI AND AARON JUDGE HAD AWARD-WINNING SEASONS.
BOTH BEING NAMED MVPS OF THEIR RESPECTIVE LEAGUES ON THURSDAY.
THE DODGERS’ OHTANI – WHO BECAME THE FIRST PLAYER IN MLB HISTORY TO HIT 50 HOME RUNS AND STEAL 50 BASES IN ON SEASON — CLAIMED HIS THIRD MVP – AND HIS FIRST IN THE NATIONAL LEAGUE. HE JOINED HALL OF FAMER FRANK THOMAS AS THE ONLY TWO PLAYERS TO GET MVP HONORS IN BOTH LEAGUES.
AND JUDGE RECEIVED HIS SECOND AMERICAN LEAGUE MVP IN THE LAST THREE YEARS.
THE TWO CULMINATED THEIR MVP SEASONS BY MEETING IN LAST MONTH’S WORLD SERIES – WHERE OHTANI AND THE DODGERS WALKED AWAY WITH THE CHAMPIONSHIP.
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